Love, Simon is the latest ‘coming of age’ film to cause a stir in the cinematic zeitgeist. ‘Coming of age’ movies have been around for some time now, but this is the first time a mainstream movie explores teenage homosexuality in the main plot line.
The ’80s was burgeoning with young adult movies; gifting us iconic films such as The Breakfast Club (1985), or Risky Business (1983) – with a young Tom Cruise establishing a prostitute business while his parents were on vacation, what a classic! The genre continued moving forward with IT (1990) the horror TV mini-series based on the novel by Stephen King, which included an (understandably controversial) orgy between a bunch of teenagers.
In recent years, filmmakers and producers certainly haven’t shied away from the exploration of serious issues and dark themes within the teenage landscape. Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why (2017) came under fire for its unapologetic depiction of bullying and suicide. Me, Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) dealt with another complicated subject, cancer. Homosexuality was explored in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), and British TV series Skins (2007-2013). But Love, Simon is the first-time homosexuality takes the centre stage in a young adult film, and we are excited!
Love, Simon deals with one of the hardest issues for teenagers: publicly accepting their sexual orientation, especially in today’s world were everyone’s life is subject to exposure on the internet. The film sees 17-year-old Simon Spier (played by Nick Robinson), use an anonymous social media platform to escape the social pressure of speaking out in public. He connects with another anonymous homosexual in his classroom, Blue.
The American film will air in Australia cinemas this Thursday, 29th of March. We steadfastly believe everyone should take the time to watch this film! Regardless of where you fall on the sexuality spectrum, supporting and normalising sexual orientation reduces the risk of teenage trauma and depression.
Picture yourself as a preadolescent, standing at the crossroads of self-discovery and self-identity, trying to find your way in the world with the added anxiety of societal acceptance of your sexual orientation weighing on your shoulders. Wouldn’t you hope to embark on this journey of self-discovery with the same indifference and acceptance as your heterosexual peers?
At the end of the day, the main purpose of this movie is to send a clear message to the world: it doesn’t matter who you love, as long as you love someone – and that’s a feeling all humans should understand, and respond to empathetically.
Will you be seeing Love, Simon? Leave us your thoughts below.
